The End of the Road

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The End of the Road (1955 revised in 1967) is John Barth's second novel. It follows protagonist Jacob Horner as he gets over a psychological case of paralysis. He just can't see a reason to make decisions. After some therapy he gets a job as a grammar teacher at Wicomico State Teachers College. There he meets Joe Morgan who is an extreme existentialist. He has forsaken objective values and hopes only too live coherently. ?I've no right to expect you or anybody to accept anything I do or say?but I can always explain what I do or say.? p.43 Jacob Horner ends up sleeping with Morgan's wife Rennie who finds herself taking on the values of the strongest personality around her. This so startles Joe that he implores Rennie to keep sleeping with Jacob. Though she finds this repulsive, she wants to placate Joe by remaining consistent. Though, one could infer that Joe Morgan would prefer her to be strong and make a decision on her own. Jacob's inability to know his own feelings, or, as he prefers, his ability to feel multiple things equally the same, maddens Joe. He wishes both parties to explain why they cheated.

Related Topics:
John Barth - Existentialist

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It ends darkly with an abortion that kills Rennie, gets Joe Morgan fired, and sends Jacob Horner back into paralysis. (This is implied though not explicitly stated.)

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There are major themes involving the folly of taking philosophies to extremity. The need to accept and embrace paradox, as well as combining different philosophies to survive in the world at large. It's main character is extremely introverted and observational.

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Tragic images such as Laocoon crop up through out foreshadowing the stories end. Jacob Horner is focused particularly on Laocoon's eyes. Too, his first lover declares ominously, ?God damn your eyes, God damn your eyes, God damn your eyes.? p.27

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Work Cited

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Barth, John: 1967 Doubledat & Company, inc. Garden City, New York.

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